THIS January-born Bleu du Maine ram lamb from Stuart and Julia Goldie, of Ferryman's House, Maunby, near Thirsk, topped the breed's pedigree national show and sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, on Friday when it sold for 2,000gns.

Maunby Butch, a scrapie genotype group one ram, is one of the first crop of lambs by Maximum Ace, bought as a lamb at last year's Carlisle sale at the top price of 520gns.

He is out of one of the Maunby flock's 50 ewes which was sired by the old stock tup Maunby Victor Ludorum, a Royal Show winner.

Semen has been retained from Butch, which was reserve male champion at this year's Royal Show and reserve breed champion at the Great Yorkshire.

He sold to breed society chairman John Davison, of Lough Green, Langley on Tyne, near Hexham.